Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2020) 9(11): 1059-1067 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 11 (2020) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.911.124 Performance of Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.) Genotypes under Wetland Ecosystem of North Bihar, India B. R. Jana* ICAR-RCER, Research Centre for Makhana, Darbhanga, Bihar, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Relative performances of ten makhana genotypes were studied at RCM, Darbhanga, during 2017- 19, based on yield and morphological characters. The results revealed that the average number of fruits/plant varied from 8.22 in Manipur-9 to 13.16 in Superior K e yw or ds Selection-1 (SS -1). The average flowering period up to 50% decomposition was in the range of 111.67 to 140.00 days. The average number of seeds /fruit of the different Makhana, genotypes varied from 68.11 in Manipur-2 to 94.37 in SS-1. After rigorous study of field Genotypes, Fruit, harvest, it has been found that Manipur-9 recorded the average minimum field harvest of Yield, Correlation 2.0 t/ha whereas SS-1 registered the average maximum of 4.2 t/ha followed by SwarnaVaidehi (3.2 t/ha). With regard to seed character, SS-1 had the highest test weight Article Info (100 seed weight) of 96.55 g and had attractive rosy purple flowers and increased number Accepted: of round bold seeds as compared to SwarnaVaidehi. The genotype Manipur -2 had greater 10 October 2020 number of flowers (13.37/plant) and Selection 27 had higher seed number/fruit (90.21) as Available Online: compared to traditional SwarnaVaidehi variety. Hence, in the crop improvement point of 10 November 2020 view, the genotypes SS-1, SwarnaVaidehi, Selection -27 and Manipur-2 were found to be promising. The genotype SS-1 was superior over SwarnaVaidehi with regard to commercial field harvest and fresh biomass production under freshwater wetland ecosystems of north Bihar, India. Introduction freshwater ecosystems. Commercial cultivation of makhana is limited to very few Makhana or gorgon nut (Euryale ferox states in India viz; north Bihar, Loktak Lake Salisb.) is a fabulous and wonderful medicinal of Manipur, parts of West Bengal and plant from the freshwater wetland ecosystem Madhya Pradesh as well as Odisha and lower of India. It is a very rooted but floating herb parts of Tripura and Assam (Goswami, 2003). providing medicinal food, plays an important After the release of new cultivar Swarna role in ecological services to rural society, Vaidehi, makhana cultivation touches a new nutrient recycling, and usually keeps the height regarding higher nut production. environment active and vibrant by fast Makhana can be fitted in the dominant decomposition of plant residues. The crop cropping system with wheat in winter under thrives best in stagnant water pools of relay cropping (Mahto and Jha, 1998 and 1059 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2020) 9(11): 1059-1067 Singh et al., 2014). People prefer pop stellata (2.2 - 7.5 um) and Trapa bipinosa makhana due to low fat content, high contents Roxb. (15.91-39.0 um) which accounted for of carbohydrates, protein and minerals. The remedy for digestive disorder. Puri et al., calorific value of makhana raw seed and pop (2000) cites the presence of important are 362 kcal/100g and 328 kcal/100 g, nutrients in makhana in terms of Ca, Mg and respectively. Pop makhana acquires the same proteins. Makhana kernel is good immune- rank as that of wheat, rice, other cereals and stimulant and is also used for treatment of other aquatic nuts like Nelumbo and Trapa leucorrhoea. It also regulates blood pressure, (Boyd 1968 and Jha1968). Medicinal relieves numbness and aching near the waist properties of makhana have been and knees. It is suitable for arthritis, recommended in the Indian and Chinese impotence and premature aging (McGuffin et system of medicine 300 years ago. Makhana al., 1997). Some makhana germplasm is recommended for treatment of diseases collected from Manipur (North East India), regarding infection of reproductive, are also promising under the wetland circulatory, digestive, excretory systems. ecosystem of north Bihar (Kumari et al., According to one school of Chinese medicine, 2014). From B.A.U. (Bihar Agriculture makhana kernel is used to tonify the spleen University), the makhana variety Sabour and stops diarrhea and to strengthen the Makhana-1 (BAU 2018) has been released for kidney. Makhana is actively used in "Chien- having better yield (3.2-3.5 t/ha) and Shih" in the Chinese medicinal formula "Su- processing quality (Pop recovery 55-60 %). Shin" (a tonic especially required for the According to Jana (2017), makhana growth of the children) (Hsu and Cho, 1951). cultivation with organic manures and oilcakes Diseases of spermatorrhoea, gonorrhoea, usually give higher nut yield (>4.0 ton/ha). articular pains, micturition, and seminal loss Makhana is an annual, cleistogamous and are also treated with makhana seed kernel as photo-insensitive crop (Jana 2018a), which food. It also influences hormonal secretion for can be grown throughout the year and in growth and development of cells (Stuart 1911, different soil types with sufficient water (Jha Crevost and Petelot 1929, Roi 1955, Kariyone and Dutta 2003). Therefore, germplasm 1955, Das et al., 2006). The makhana is collection and study of their performance famous for its unique glucoside combinations, under particular ecosystems are necessary to which protects many cardiovascular diseases harness the maximum crop production and (Jha et al., 1991). The farinaceous seeds have profitability. Thus, the present investigation also binding action in dysentery. To overcome was aimed at for screening out different postnatal weaknesses in women, makhana is genotypes of makhana with regard to their very important and for men and it is an yield and quality under freshwater wetlands aphrodisiac and has spermatogenic potential of North Bihar. (Ho et al., 1953). In ayurveda makhana is recommended to be beneficial in Tridosas, Materials and Methods especially in Vata (rheumatic disorders) and Pitta (bile disorders). In the Unani system of Plant materials medicine, seeds are used against dysmenorrhoea. According to Quadrat et al., The experiment was conducted at ICAR- (2000) the seeds contain sufficient amount of RCER, Research Centre for Makhana, vitamins B1, which can be effectively used to Darbhanga, Bihar, during 2017-2019. The treat beriberi whereas its starch granules to be genotypes under study were Manipur-2, very small (1- 3 um) as that of wild Nymphea Manipur-4, Manipur-7, Manipur-9, Selection- 1060 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2020) 9(11): 1059-1067 17, Selection -23, Selection -27, Selection- Results and Discussion 28, Superior Selection -1 (SS-1) and Swarna Vaidehi. The genotypes were maintained as a Physical characters and yield pure line for three (3) consecutive years and relative performances were examined along Relative performances of 10-makhana with yield. germplasm were studied at RCM, Darbhanga, and Bihar, India during 2017-19. The Special agronomic practices variation in vegetative and floral characters were observed in 10 types of germplasm viz; The field was ploughed for 2-3 times with the Manipur-2, Manipur-4 Manipur-7, Manipur- help of a rotavator. Weeds were completely 9, Selection-17, Selection-23, Selection-27, removed. Planting distance was 1.40 m x 1.40 Selection28, Superior Selection-1 and cv. m. About 2-3 %, area was left for the Swarna Vaidehi. The genotype Manipur-2 preparation of bundh and irrigation channels. was the relatively dwarf makhana plant The optimum plant population was (height =100.89cm). The highest leaf maintained around 5000/ha. The fertilizer diameter was found in SS-1 it was about 1.23 dose of makhana was in terms of N:P:K @ m i.e 123 cm (Table-1). In a different 100:60:40 with 4.0-5.0 tons of FYM/ha. The experiment Kumari et al., (2014) found that crops were grown as rainy season crops with leaf area ranged from 80 cm X 76 cm to 114 enough water, which propel the maximum cm X 112cm with the highest in germplasm growth for reproductive parts due to a number Manipur-9 (114 cmx 112 cm). In our conducive environment. present experiment, the leaf diameter of Manipur-9 was about 0.95 m. All the Manipur Observations group germplasm were dwarf and they were statistically at par in respect of plant height. Morphological studies were carried out by the The genotypes Manipur-9 had less number of standard methods on plant height, no of flowers (8.41) as compared to SS-1, which leaves /plant, leaf diameter, no. of flowers was vigorous in nature and plant height was /plant, flowering period up to 50 % 132.66 cm (Table-1). The number of leaves decomposition of plant, no. of fruits /plant, no (16.62/plant) and flowers (15.11/plant) were of seeds /fruits, 100 seed weight (test weight), found to be maximum in SS-1. The study potential yield /plant and actual yield i.e. field related to evaluation of Manipur germplasm harvest. Fresh biomass (kg/plant) of every by Kumari et al., (2014) revealed that the genotype was taken at maturity. maximum number of flowers was recorded with the germplasm number Manipur-1 Statistical design (11.0). In our present study among the Manipur group of germplasm, Manipur - Three years pool data were analyzed by 2 recorded to have the maximum flowering adopting randomized block design with 3.0 (13.37/plant). The number of leaves recorded replications. Data were subjected to ANOVA in our present study was very high as and mean separation were done within compared to Kumari et al., (2014) and Kumar column (p<0.05) by comparing CD.